Hibiscus plant named ‘Boreas Yellow’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Boreas Yellow’, characterized by its upright, mounding and bushy plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large bright yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BOREAS YELLOW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Boreas Yellow’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractiveand long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation ofHibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Boreas’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.21,618. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by theInventor on a single flowering plant within a population of plants of‘Boreas’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark inApril, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark sinceAugust, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Boreas Yellow’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Boreas Yellow’ as a new and distinctHibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, mounding and bushy plant habit.    -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large bright yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored        centers.    -   5. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the parent,‘Boreas’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of‘Boreas’ in flower bud and petal color as of plants of ‘Boreas’ havelight yellow green-colored flower buds and pale yellow-colored petals.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Cairo White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed fromplants of ‘Cairo White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Cairo White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had broader flower buds than        plants of ‘Cairo White’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus lasted about four to        five days whereas flowers of plants of ‘Cairo White’ lasted a        single day.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Boreas Yellow’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of developingflower buds and an open flower of ‘Boreas Yellow’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a dissectedflower of ‘Boreas Yellow’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 13-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under environmentalconditions and cultural practices which closely approximate commercialHibiscus production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures rangedfrom 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plantswere pinched one time about eight weeks after planting and were 22 weeksold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Boreas Yellow’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Hibiscus    rosa-sinensis ‘Boreas’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,618.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures of 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at            temperatures of 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight            weeks at temperatures of 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten            weeks at temperatures of 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close            to 158A.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, mounding and bushy plant            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about            five to eight lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm to 55 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 18 cm to 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Woody.        -   Color.—Close to N198A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.        -   Shape.—Cordate to somewhat reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute to obtuse.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 135A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137A; venation, close to 138B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf            axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with            numerous flower buds and open flowers per plant at one time;            flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during            the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in            the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants            begin flowering about 12 to 14 weeks after pinching.        -   Flower longevity.—Excellent flower longevity, flowers last            for about four to five days; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 16 cm to 20 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 11 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about            three to five days. Length: About 7 cm to 9 cm. Diameter:            About 2 cm to 3 cm. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Color: Close            to 8C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 10 cm to            11 cm. Width: About 9 cm to 10 cm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire, undulate. Texture,            upper surface: Glabrous; rugose; velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Glabrous; rugose; satiny. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 12B; towards the base, close to 53A.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 8C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 12A; towards the base, close to 53A;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 8C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Width: About            1 cm to 1.3 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Rough. Texture, lower            surface: Smooth. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 145A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 100. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155B. Anther shape: Rounded to ovate. Anther            length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 19A.            Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 17A.            Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 10 cm. Style length: About            9 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to            11D; towards the base, close to 53A. Stigma appearance:            Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to 12B. Ovary            color: Close to 145A.        -   Seeds.—Quantity produced per flower: About one to twelve.            Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: Close to            202A.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to have tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘BoreasYellow’ as illustrated and described.